Sorry that it took me a while to update this story. I actually needed inspiration. I got it watching The Raid 1 & 2. The movies have an interesting storyline but even better martial arts choreography and characters. I have two characters in my story directly inspired by The Raid 2. I recommend those movies if you like martial arts films. Just a warning, they are very violent.

OK, so here we go…

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The end of the road…

Glen, Abraham and Eugene are standing next to a car as Abraham puts cold compressions against his bruised face.

"I gotta hand it to ya, I thought you were still full of shit, but your plan worked." Abraham said as he patted Eugene roughly on the back. Eugene smiled and nodded, but secretly kept the sting of the pats given by his larger friend, to himself.

"Yeah, I really thought we didn't have a chance, but I am learning to trust you Eugene." Shared Glen with a smile.

"So, what would it be fellows?" Asked Cap as he approached the victorious trio.

"For one thing, we can really use a vehicle and some weapons. We need to get to our people." Answered an eager Glen.

"Yeah, and some food. I'm starving!" Exclaimed Abraham.

"You know, you can be a part of us. We have enough supplies and a couple of generators. This place is secured from the biters." Stated Cap hoping to convince them to stay.

"I can't speak for my friends, but I need to get to my family. Thanks, but I have to go." Retorted Glen with a nod.

"He's right. We have people and there is no way I'm shaving my hair to look like one of you's." Alleged Abraham.

"If that's what you want, that's fine. Come and get what you need before you leave." Cap smiled towards the men's direction and turned to leave.

"Hey, since it was you that planned our victory, how about you choose the vehicle? I'll get the weapons." Abraham said as he looked towards Eugene. Eugene agreed and went towards Cap's direction.

XXXXXXXX

"Yeah, they aren't staying. A shame though, they could have been a great asset to our group." Declared Cap, as he approached Mason who stood next to a jeep and examined its contents. It was a recent item that had been won for the freaks. The original owners lost the fight.

"True, but they won and we stick to our deals…" Mason stated before being interrupted.

"Mason! Mason!" It was Richie yelling as he ran towards Mason and Cap.

Mason knew something was wrong, especially since his brother was not with him.

"Richie?! Where's Enoch?!" Mason asked as his voice began to rise as fear filled his chest.

"Mason… He killed… He killed Enoch!" Richie hesitantly answered not knowing and fearing Mason's reaction.

"Killed?... My brother?... No, it can't." Mason stood in shock. He felt his feet become light. He had to hold on to the side of the jeep. Cap saw his friend's situation and went to hold him, but Mason roughly pulled away from his attempted clutch.

"Who did it! Speak now boy!" Mason demanded. His green eyes became dark and piercing. They were so intimidating that Richie feared for his own life if he didn't speak fast enough.

"We were at the garden. Mason wanted to pluck someone from there…. I…I know you said we shouldn't but he… He insisted." Richie could see Mason becoming more irate as the story progressed. "Enoch was talking with Uncle Edgar and then this bowlegged, bearded hick came and shot him dead."

"Without a warning or challenge?!" Asked Mason. The fury had accumulated so that tears began to shed. "What about you and the other. There were three of you. How come you survived?"

"Mason, he wasn't alone. He has an army. There is a huge man with a hammer, there are women too and everyone had weapons. There's even a woman with a sword. Uncle Edgar begged to spare me. Thank goodness that he did so I was able to come here and tell you."

Mason walked over to Richie, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt using both hands and brought him closer to his face. "You were spared, but you will take me there. I will take the head of my brother's killer!" And tossed Richie to the floor. "Get up and get ready boy!"

Mason proceeded to walk to the portion of the warehouse that he kept an armory.

"Mason!" Cap ran behind him. "I can understand what you are feeling right now."

Mason didn't say anything. He kept walking so Cap went in front of him to stop him, but with caution as he approached. They had been friends since a little after the Apocalypse started, but Cap knew quite well that anger and sadness can disrupt reasoning and strain friendship.

"Mason, you have to think this through. You told Enoch and the others to leave those people alone. There were only children and the elderly there."

"You're saying he deserved what happened?" Questioned an angry Mason.

Cap stood his ground although he wanted to take some steps back. He even wanted to answer Mason's question with an obvious answer. He wanted to say, 'Yeah, he deserved it.' But knew that would harm more than help and probably provoke a fight between them both.

"What I am trying to say is that you know Richie and things may not have happened the way he said. You know… You knew how Enoch was. He was not supposed to go there anymore."

"How would you feel if it was your family?"

"Mason, I understand, but you worked so hard to have what we got here… OK, we are not related to you, but we are like a family."

"He was my brother. I was supposed to look out for him… He was all I had!"

"Mason, you can be walking into something you don't know. This isn't like you. You never took anything personal. It was all just for survival."

"I am getting the gang ready!" Mason stated firmly dismissing Cap's pleads.

"Mason, when will it ever be enough?!" Yelled a frustrated Cap. "You said that the fighting will end and we will all settle in a community built by us, but Enoch wanted to keep it going and you accepted… So many people died for what?... He and his goons killed, tortured, raped…"

"I was never part of any of that!"

"No Mason, but you looked the other way. You just let it happen. He even traded people like if they were objects and you did nothing. He was supposed to leave that place alone and now we are walking into something we may not be ready for."

"If you are scared, than stay and leave me be!" Mason walked away as Cap stayed shaking his head.

"I will go with you Mason, even if it meant the end of the road." Cap shared in a low tone, almost a whisper as Mason was further away.

Neither men noticed that Eugene had followed and heard everything. Cap turned and saw Eugene standing there.

"Yeah, right… Let's get you…"

"No wait!" Eugene interrupted Cap. "We… We actually changed our minds."

XXXXXXXX

Cap returned with Eugene to meet up with Glen and Abraham.

"It's great that you guys changed your minds. We got a bit of a situation and we can use your help with this. We meet in the armory in ten." Cap said as he nodded towards the three men and walked away.

"Eugene, where's our car?" Asked a puzzled Abraham as his gaze slowly moved from Cap's direction to a visibly scared Eugene.

"We are going in one." Eugene answered.

"Going in one to where?" Asked Glen.

"To where Mason and his people are going…" Eugene couldn't finish what he was saying because Abraham grabbed him by the throat in one swift moment. Eugene was gasping for air and tried to pry the strong grip.

"Eugene! What do you mean we are going with Mason's people?!" Yelled Glen as he held on to his head in dread and confusion.

"Let… Please… Let…Let me…" Eugene was trying to explain what he heard.

"Abe, just let him go." Abraham reluctantly listened to Glen. "What happened? And there better be a good reason or Abe continues and I walk away. I mean it." Said a frustrated Glen.

Abe released his grip. Eugene rubbed his neck and coughed a few times. "I was going to retrieve the vehicle, but as I was approaching I overheard a conversation between Mason and some young man I have never seen here before. The young man stated that Mason's brother was killed and now they are going to exert revenge."

"So, what does that have to do with us?" Asked an even more frustrated Abraham.

"The kid said that the person that killed Mason's brother was a bowlegged bearded hick."

"Eugene, you know we are in the South. Bearded hick's basically grow on trees here." Countered Abraham.

"Yes, I am well aware of our geographical location and the population that inhabits said location, but I doubt many bearded hicks travel with a huge African American man with a hammer, many armed women and one that carries a sword." Eugene shared as he looked at the other two.

"Rick! It has to be Rick, Maggie and the others!" Shouted Glen with excitement.

XXXXXXXX

"OK, we need to make sure everything is fortified. Let me see what you got there, that can be used as weapons Carlos." Rick was checking everything and making sure that everyone knew the plans.

"Sir, we got some gardening tools and other stuff." Said Carlos.

"Hey, Rick." Called Daryl.

"Yeah, what's up?" Rick asked as he walked towards him. Daryl had some hunting traps he found.

"I'm gonna go set these up. They're good for huntin' bears; we can use these against those assholes. What ya think?"

Rick nodded at Daryl's plan. The last thing Rick wanted was a war or to fight at all, but he knew they all needed to get ready.

The vulnerable and incapable of fighting were placed in a safe area. Rick reiterated with his people to focus on their own strengths and not try to match the enemy, whom they heard were skilled fighters. They were also people they have never seen before.

XXXXXXXX

The morning turned to mid-day and it was quiet. Only a few roaming walkers that were on the outskirts of the gate were seen and heard. Mason looked with binoculars from far where he was parked with his people and their vehicles.

"Listen up!" Mason yelled. I want the one responsible for my brother's death. The one Richie described as the bearded hick. I know there are innocent children there. .. Don't harm them." Mason gazed at Cap who didn't show any emotion on his face as his eyes squinted with the bright sun. "Just bring him to me. If someone confronts you, present the challenge and do what's needed, but only if they accept… Otherwise, if you find the asshole that cowardly ended my brother's life, you bring him alive to me!"

His people agreed verbally and with nods. Cap noticed how Scar, Turner and the other freaks that were closer to Enoch simply looked at each other and smirked. Cap knew very well, they had other agendas and it wasn't good.

XXXXXXX

Mason and his people discovered a week place on one of the gates in the far back. It was easily removed and they entered there slowly and quietly. They had their weapons ready. Mason ordered through the motion of his hands for the people to disperse. At first, glance it appeared that the garden was empty. Perhaps even abandoned. They broke into small groups, some of four, three even two. Mason went with Richie, since he is the only one that had seen Rick and knew exactly what he looked like.

Time was passing by and there were no signs of people anywhere. Mason's people continued to look around and some were growing impatient.

"Do you think they just ran off?" Turner asked Cap as he lowered his automatic weapon.

"Maybe." Replied Cap. "They know Richie escaped and probably had a good feeling he was returning with people. I think we should…"

Suddenly there was a loud noise. Something appeared to have fallen from the roof of one of the model homes. Rinko heard the noise and went to investigate. His younger sister Kiro was close behind. They communicated through sign language. Kiro was deaf and mute and Rinko was her translator. It was Beth on the roof with a gun. She accidently knocked off a piece of shingle from the corner of the home when she was adjusting her weapon. She laid on her back and prayed quietly, hoping they couldn't tell where the sound came from. Rinko and Kiro entered the house and cleared it. From far, Mason motioned for people to start checking the roofs. One of Mason's men, Mark, began to climb the roof of the house next to where Beth was hiding. Once he reached the top, he was greeted with a silencer to his forehead. The gun was held by Sasha. Mark opened his mouth, but nothing was heard. A quiet bullet assured that he would not call out to his people. Sasha leaped to grab his lifeless body from falling, when she saw he was falling back to the ground, but the man's large frame was too much for her and he fell to the ground with a loud thud! Mason's people heard the noise. The closes were Kiro and Rinko and they did not lose time running to where they heard the noise. They readied their weapons and proceeded with caution as they climbed the side of the house to get to the roof. Once they were up there, they saw that the roof was empty, but Rinko could hear someone running away. He looked towards the noise. It was Sasha running from behind the house. Rinko signed for Kiro to follow him and in an instance they were on her trail. Rinko's choice of weapon was a wooden professional baseball bat. He was trained by Mason to use it well. There were many that had fallen victims to his bat. Kiro was taught to use two hammers. She never lost a fight and her disability never stood in her way despite surviving a ZA.

The unrelenting dangerous siblings were right behind Sasha. She tried a few times to stop, aim and shoot, but they would hide quickly and then continue their pursuit rapidly. Sasha was well aware that she needed to conserve her ammo and hand to hand combat with one would not lead to a victory in her favorite and fighting the two of them will definitely seal her fate. Sasha ran towards the shed in the lush garden. She slowly walked around the side of the shed trying to slowly check around and hoping she can enter before being spotted and hiding once again. Once she turned the corner and was about to enter, there was Rinko. He swung the bat and Sasha duck in the nick of time. She could see Kiro running and getting closer with her hammers. When Sasha ducked, she lost her footing and fell to the ground butt first. With the unexpected impact, her gun was knocked out of her hand. Rinko walked slowly up to Sasha as she moved back on the ground with every step he took.

"You just killed my friend. I now challenge you." With those words he picked up the bat and was ready to slam down on a defenseless Sasha when Tyrese stopped the weapon with a 2x4 he must have picked up from somewhere. Tyrese pushed Rinko with such force that he fell to the ground, but jumped up quickly. Tyrese was much bigger than the five feet six inch twenty something years old, but his sister Kiro, who was not much bigger had just arrived. Sasha stood up next to her brother, but her weapon was too far to grab. Sasha looked confused as she saw how Rinko and Kiro exchanged messaged through signs. Sasha's confusion turned to concern when the two younger siblings readied their weapons and looked set to pounce. Tyrese stared at his younger sibling, offered his 2x4 and took out his hammer. Rinko and Kiro accepted the display as a challenge, but Sasha and Tyrese were going to fight to survive.

Kiro jumped first towards Tyrese with her two hammers. She knew how to use her weapons well along with her body. Where she governed in speed and training, Tyrese had in height and strength. Sasha tried to block all of Rinko's blows with her weapon. She knew her skills were present and stronger behind her gun. She saw where it was and needed to get there, but her opponent was unrelenting and could tell that she was inching towards a weapon that even his skills could not stop. Rinko's swings were becoming too much for Sasha to handle. She fell once again to the ground and her weapon fell to the side of her. Rinko saw his victory approaching and was about to take it when he saw from his peripheral vision that Tyrese was able to get a good swing in and sent Kiro to the ground. Rinko yelled and ran towards his sister when…

" Bang!"

Rinko fell to the ground with a gunshot to the back of the head, curtesy of Sasha's great aim. Tyrese looked towards his sister when he heard the gunshot. He lowered his weapon for a second, but unfortunately, that was all Kiro needed. She quickly sat up from the ground and swung the claw part of her hammer twice and both blows reached Tyrese's midsection, cutting him open and deep. The big man grabbed his belly in pain and fell to his knees. He was right in front of Kiro as she was about to take a fatal and final swing to his head when…

"Bang, bang!"

Kiro also met her demise with two shots to the back of her head by way of Sasha's gun and sniper skills.

Sasha ran to her brother who lay on the ground in pain. She fell next to him and embraced him, placing his head on her lap as she cried out. He was too large to drag to safety. She looked around frantically knowing very well that the enemy will be on them very soon. She tried to help him stand, but he had no strength in his legs. From far she could see two men running her way. They were people she could not recognize and knew that they were going to kill them. She lifted her gun, readied her weapon and before she can aim, she heard gunshots and saw the men fall simultaneously. Sasha saw that behind the fallen men was Carol who ran towards her. She helped her lift Tyrese as much as she could and drag him under the porch of one of the nearby model homes. More of Mason's people were approaching. Carol did her best to hide Tyrese and an emotionally distraught Sasha. Carol prepared her weapons, but saw that the coming enemy was alerted to a nearby noise. They pursued the running figure into the woods. Carol squinted her eyes from where she was and could see that the person they chased was Daryl.

XXXXXXX

"Do you think he's the bearded hick Mason wants so badly?" Asked Peter, one of Mason's men as he ran after Daryl.

"Let's catch the dirty bastard and bring him to Mason. Let him figure it out." Replied Steve.

There were four following him. Daryl was quickly out of their view. The men were strong and well trained, but the woods were Daryl's domain and he was going to show them why.

They had lost track and vision of Daryl. They didn't want to go back, but knew they needed to remain vigilant and cautious. They didn't know what their pursuant was capable of and they couldn't forget that the dead roamed freely in the woods. They decided to split in pairs and cover more ground. Peter and Steve went one way while Robbie and Heath went another. Daryl could see everything unfold from above as he hid within the trees. He followed Robbie and Manny while they looked around. He waited for an opportunity to strike. He didn't want them to return and go after the others. He brought them far enough and he knew he had to take care of them, they were a threat to his people. Once Robbie was far from Manny. Daryl lowered himself from the tree where he hid and followed Manny as quietly as he could. Daryl reached for his hunting knife, held it tight and jumped on the man. Manny turned quickly and tried to hold the knife from striking, but Daryl was much bigger and probably more determined. Daryl was able to strike a couple of times, blood began to flow from Manny's body, but he continued to fight with the stronger opponent without relenting. Manny was able to get in some punches to the face and kicks to the body, but it did little to phase Daryl. Manny received a couple of more strikes until his lifeless body fell to the ground. Daryl looked down at his victim as he tried to catch his breath. He looked up when he heard crunching leaves. It was Robbie. He looked at his dead comrade and then the one responsible standing there over him with the bloodied weapon in his tight grip. Robbie took out his large knife and ran towards the stranger. Robbie swung at Daryl, but did not connect with her target. Daryl was too quick and agile and capable of evading the homicidal weapon. Punches were swung back and forth and many did connect. Daryl was able to push Robbie against a tree and the impact made him lose the grip he had on his knife. He knew all he could rely on now was his hand to hand training and used that against Daryl. He was able to get in a couple of punches to the face, making Daryl's nose and mouth bleed, he blocked the knife and hit Daryl's arm against his leg a few times until Daryl finally dropped his hunting knife. He turned and kicked Daryl in the stomach with such force that he fell to the ground. Robbie reached for Daryl's knife and walked towards him to finish him off, but as he approached a figure was behind him. It was Manny who had turned. Before Robbie could react, Manny was on him and bit a chunk out of his neck. Robbie fell on the ground with Manny on him and dropped the knife. Daryl ran to retrieve his fallen weapon, and turned his head as he heard the other two men running towards him. They heard Robbie's screams from where they were. They reached the horrendous scene and knew that there was little they could do for Robbie who extended his hand as Manny ate away. Steve pointed his weapon and shot them both in the head. Peter rushed a shaken Steve to pursue Daryl and get the revenge that began to grow in their chests. Without care or thinking, they ran after the noise that led them deeper into the woods. The two men stopped and looked around, but everything appeared the same.

"I can't see him anymore. I can't see much of anything out here. Do you think we should leave?" Asked Peter as he looked around frantically.

"We cannot go back without that hillbilly's head." Replied an angry Steve.

The conversation was cut short when they heard more noises coming from deeper in the woods. The two men followed. Peter was reluctant, but followed just the same. Their running was quickly stopped when both men simultaneously felt a sharp pain in their legs followed by a "snapping" sound. The men fell to the ground along with their weapons. They reached for their legs to find that they were caught in bear traps. They try to stifle their screams so they wouldn't alert walkers their way. The undead was the least of their worries. The two men tried to retrieve their weapons that had been practically thrown to the side when they felt the pain. Steve could not reach his, but once Peter was also inches from his rifle, Daryl came out of the woods and kicked it away. He hovered over the agonizing men as he breathed hard covered in blood and sweat. In his right hand was his hunting knife that he gripped tightly. He looked at the two men and squinted due to the sun in his eyes and the desire in his chest.

"So, you two boys ever gone huntin'?" Grunted Daryl as he walked closer.

XXXXXXXX

Beth and Noah were on one of the roofs with their weapons. They could hear the fighting and the shooting. Beth tried to get a good look to see if she could help her friends out with a good shot. She was spotted by one of Mason's men. Maggie was hiding in one of the other homes and could see that Beth's location was discovered and she didn't have much time before she was reached. Maggie left her post in a panic and aimed to shoot but missed the massive man. The man turned and proceeded to shoot towards Maggie making her run back to where she was originally.

Maggie ran inside the home and stood quickly behind the door. Without warning, the man busted through the door pushing Maggie back and to the ground. Maggie quickly stood up and saw that the man was tall and muscular. He was about 6'3 and 280 lbs. Maggie aimed her gun, but it was jammed. One look at the man and Maggie knew she could not compete with his body strength. As the man walked slowly towards her, she walked the same pace backwards.

"Well, well, well…So who do I have here?" Asked the man. Maggie did not reply. She slowly took out her knife and gripped it tight and prepared to battle.

"Oh so you want to play?... Then we'll play. My name is Turner. You know, I love to hear a woman scream. There are so many people that whine about this new world…not me. This is my world…this is my life and anarchy…"

"OK, I get it." Interrupted Maggie. "You're just another asshole who loves being part of this shithole!"

Turner's smile disappeared from his face. He lowered his eyes, fisted his hands and walked quickly towards Maggie, ready to pounce. "So, let's hear you scream."

"Ahhhhhh." Screamed Turner. He turned to see Tara with a bloody blade. She had struck him in the back with her knife. She was about to strike again when Turner blocked the knife with one hand and punched her with the other. He picked her up and threw her across the room.

Maggie jumped on Turner from behind and tried to stab him in the chest, but he was able to grab her arm in time and turn her around. He held her arm and hit her with a side kick. He walked towards the bruised and dazed Maggie and picked her up by her neck and carried her towards a table. Maggie kicked and punched at Turner, but to no avail. Her hits were no match for the massive opponent. He held her on the table and continued to squeeze tightly as he looked her in her eyes.

"Listen up cutie, I'm still debating if I should just finish killing you or fuck you first. Either way, I still want my scream." Turner leaned in to kiss Maggie as she was slowly falling into an unconscious state, but he quickly let his grip go when he felt a sharp pain in his side.

When Turner turned to touch where the pain had come from he saw blood on his hand. He turned completely to see Mikey standing there with Tara's knife in his hand.

"You're gonna need more than that stupid little knife little boy… Now let me show you what a real man can do." Turner lunged at Mikey, but Mikey was able to dodge the punches and connected with strikes of his own on certain precise places on Turner's body.

Turner continued to swing punches and tried to kick, but felt himself become sluggish. He felt his heart beating fast and sounds became far echoes in his ears. He suddenly fell to his knees, but could not stand up as much as he tried. He looked up at the young man that stood in front of him.

"Wha…What the fuck… did you do to me?" Panted Turner.

Mikey stared at the kneeling brute and then leaned forward just a little so the man can hear his words. "I stabbed you in very keen areas of your body where the blood flows rapidly… What I did to you was… Teach you what a real man can do."

Turner looked up at the man and tried one last time to grab him, but had no strength and fell completely laid out on the floor. In a matter of seconds, Turner had bled out and died. Mikey saw that Maggie was OK as she was standing rubbing her neck coughing. They both ran towards Tara. When they reached her, they noticed that she was impaled on a piece of sharp floorboard sticking out from the ground. Mikey quickly looked for something to wrap around the cut to stop the bleeding as they figured a way to get her out.

Maggie turned to get rags or anything they can use when she was startled by a reanimated Turner coming towards them. Maggie grabbed her knife, but then heard a loud gunshot and saw Turner fall to the floor face first with a bullet in the back of his head. From the doorway stood a person with a smoking gun. It was Glen.

XXXXXXXXXXX

The gunshots heard caused Mason's people to quicken their pace in the area and check everywhere anxiously. They were all over the community, checking the houses. Michonne was in one of the houses looking through the window. She knew that it would be a matter of time before they got to her location. She kept herself out of view and watched the people pass where she was hidden. She chose to be located there for a particular reason and that same reason could easily give her location away.

Michonne could faintly hear a baby cry from the distance. She instinctively knew it was Judith. Judith, the other children, the very old and others that could not fight were placed in the basement of that house. The gunshots must have spooked Judith and Michonne knew that her cries might bring people her way and if they did she would be prepared. Michonne quickly ran to the basement door and checked on the people she was guarding. Abbie held Judith in her arms. When Judith saw Michonne, she extended her arms for her. Michonne quickly took her from Abbie's arms and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Michonne heard what appeared to be creak noises coming from upstairs. Michonne returned the child to Abbie, instructed that everyone remained quiet and walked upstairs to see if someone had come in. She quietly closed the door behind her.

"So, what are you supposed to be?" Asked a tall bald Caucasian man in black jeans and a white t-shirt. He had many scars throughout his face and arms.

Michonne didn't answer. She unshielded her sword and stared at the man.

"OK, no answer?... They call me Scars on the count of I have so many…But I prefer to give them." Scars looked at Michonne up and down. "Ooh baby, I would like to give you a few."

Michonne placed her katana up and ready for battle. Scars smiled and nodded. He reached for a machete he had hanging from the side of his belt. The two warriors were ready.

_0_

There is so much more to come!

Thanks for reading